History; In 1984 on a sunny fall day a small group of volunteers from Bergen Highlands United Methodist Church in Upper Saddle River were volunteering at a Saturday clothing sale in Paterson at CUMAC, the Center of United Methodist Aid to the Community, a food and clothing pantry. In a corner of the small church facility they found a box of donated stuffed animals and various other children’s toys. Across the street from the church was the Paterson Boys Club. Children …toys ….and the Paterson Toy Sale was born! Peter Thornton, the director of the Boys Club willingly donated the gym for that first December Saturday morning event.

In the first years, the sale was only church sponsored with gently used toys being donated by church members and their friends. But good news travels fast and ten years later, the communities of Saddle River, Upper Saddle River the Montvale School PTO, Pascack Juniors Woman’s Club, the Girl Scouts, and many other individuals from neighboring towns were donating new and used toys AND volunteering to help out on sale day. Rob and Cindy Myer of Ridgewood Moving Services came to the rescue one year when donations topped our station wagon and SUV abilities to transport toys. Ridgewood Moving Services has been volunteering their trucks, materials, time and “elves” for over 25 years.

Fast Forward 2018s the 34th year of the Paterson Toy Sale, which always occurs on the first Friday and Saturday in December has grown from a three table, two hour event for children to a two day multi-thousand toy event requiring two moving vans for delivery. Friday night is “Kid Night”. Only

Local school students are allowed to shop and if you volunteer that night, it is truly a magical experience.

Saturday morning is open to the community. Children can shop for their entire family for $2.00. Parents spend $10.00 and walk away with toys for three children. All proceeds are equally donated to CUMAC and the Paterson Passaic Boys and Girls Club. There are no expenses. All work is done by volunteers and every toy is donated by people who simply want to reach out at Christmas time to make a difference in a child’s life. The tradition will continue with the new CEO, Wendy McGuire, of the Boys and Girls Club of Paterson/Passaic.

This Toy Story is a Win Win Win……..donated “unwanted” toys goes to new families and the monies raised is given back to the community. This year, we had more toy donations than ever before……way to go.

The true meaning of the holiday spirit!!

Merry Christmas Everyone…………..

Cindy

A sincere Thank you to; The Ridgewood Moms, The Ramsey Moms and the Mahwah Moms……a tremendous amount of donations came from you. Lakeland Bank had several trailer loads of toys come through. Falco Group ReMax Franklin Lakes has been a supporter for many years, along with CSubs of Montvale, Montvale Memorial School, United Methodist Church and many friends and business colleagues within our community